Writing and Editing
Publications and Proofreading
Strategic Communications
Marketing and Sales
Teaching and Tutoring
I started writing well before the computer arrived on every desk. I became an early adopter in 1985 when I set aside my IBM Selectric (preceded by the Underwood) for one of the first Mac portables. I’ve been through a fair bit of hardware since then and continue to learn all kinds of digital tools. Almost always in collaboration with graphic designers, printers, photographers, AV professionals, media managers and technical analysts, I see how being open to learning helps me keep pace with the tools of my trade. Photos: (above) Underwood Typewriter Company, 1915, NYC. (below) Unknown 2022.
MY TOP FOUR RESOURCES
The Canadian Press Stylebook has been my ‘bible’ since the beginning of my writing career. I also keep a copy of their Caps and Spelling book handy because, as they say, some wording is tricky and troublesome. www.thecanadianpress.com
Editors Canada is a thoughtful, professional community created to serve the needs of editors and writers. Their services are many. Their understanding is deep. And their certification program opens doors. www.editors.ca
The International Association of Business Communicators has been around since 1970 and has chapters across Canada. They offer two levels of certification through a council separate from the association. Based on my experiences as a member for 22 years, they are the voice of best practices. www.iabc.com.
Roget’s Thesaurus was written by British physician Peter Mark Roget (1779-1869). More than a compendium of synonyms, it functions as a reversed dictionary and, personally speaking, serves as a writer’s lifeline when “groping in the dark” for the right words. Roget kept his thesaurus as a private document for almost 50 years, publishing it in 1852. The book has never been out of print since.
